Freeloading parents

My mom went to work as a typist straight out of high school at the age of 18. She retired as a secretary at 65. She was a good one: she typed 120 words a minute without errors. Her monthly income in retirement was $1,200 from Social Security and a $54 corporate pension.

My dad worked in gas stations and factories before World War II.

After Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the Navy and served for the rest of the war. The G.I. Bill then paid for him to attend cook's school and provided a loan for him to open a small coffee shop. He was successful until a chain opened a competing coffee shop nearby and drove him out of business by selling meals at a loss until he was gone. He then worked until age 67 as a cook; it was hard work. His monthly income during retirement was a similar Social Security payment plus $150 from the culinary union.

Needless to say, with such low income, they didn't owe any income tax during retirement.

They both paid into Social Security and Medicare while they worked, and they received the benefits after retirement.

According to Romney, people like my parents - low-income retirees who pay sales and property taxes but not income taxes, who receive the insurance benefits for which they paid - are freeloaders. I never realized that.